Salton City - Teen Smuggler Arrested

Last updated 12/10/2015 at 11:12am

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested by El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents from the Highway 86 checkpoint, as a suspected drug smuggler, Wednesday. Dec 9.

A commercial bus arrived at the checkpoint and was referred to secondary inspection for an immigration check. During the immigration inspection, Border Patrol agents encountered the 16-year-old who appeared nervous. Following a pat-down of the teen, agents discovered four packages of heroin wrapped around his abdomen and held in place by a woman’s spandex body suit.

“The agents of the El Centro Sector Border Patrol continue to safeguard our nation and its citizens by keeping dangerous drugs such as these from reaching our streets,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Roy Villareal.

The heroin had a combined weight of 3.85 pounds with an estimated street value of $46,200.

The teen, a United States citizen, and the narcotics were turned over to the custody of the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.